Ha-seong Kim (28, San Diego Padres) contributed to the team’s victory by striking a timely wedge like gold. In addition, he played a stable role in defense and helped San Diego starting pitcher Michael Waka (32) with a good pitch. Waka received a standing ovation from home fans for his perfect pitch along with a career-high strikeout record, including pitching no hits until the 7th inning.
San Diego won 4-0 in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) home game against the Kansas City Royals at Petco Park in San Diego, California on the 16th (Korean time). With this victory, San Diego escaped from a 5-game losing streak and reached 20 스포츠토토 wins (22 losses). San Diego remains third in the National League West Division. On the other hand, Kansas City recorded 12 wins and 31 losses while falling into a quagmire of four consecutive losses. It is the lowest in the American League Central Division.
Kim Ha-seong, who started as the 7th hitter and second baseman, recorded 1 hit, 1 RBI and 1 strikeout in 4 at-bats. The batting average for the season rose slightly from 0.221 to 0.230 (29 hits in 126 at-bats). San Diego starter Michael Waka succeeded in achieving his 4th win of the season with 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 hit ball, 11 strikeouts and no runs over 7 innings. He also lowered his earned run average from 4.82 to 4.06.
San Diego took the first run from the first inning and overpowered Kansas City. Leading batter Tatis Jr. got on base with a heavy hit. San Diego seized a chance at 1st and 3rd base after Machado’s first base grounder after one out and a pitcher’s error during Soto’s subsequent at-bat. When Bogarts was at bat, Kansas City starter Brad Keller committed a wild pitch, and third base runner Tatis Jr. stepped home (1-0).
San Diego added two runs in the second inning. Kim Ha-seong entered the plate as the lead batter and picked out three balls in a row. However, after letting go of the 4th and 5th pitches, he attacked the 6th pitch, but withdrew with a floating ball to the right fielder. Afterwards, Grisham and Nola’s consecutive walks created opportunities for first and second bases, and Tatis Jr. struck a right-handed hit in San Diego. Even third base runner Nola scored with a ball that hit the ball. (3-0) It wasn’t a fastball, but a 130km slider hit Machado on the back of his left hand. Machado was immediately replaced by Lugned Odor after the sand dunes. In the process, Kim Ha-seong moved his defensive position from second baseman to third baseman.
While the San Diego lineup was gaining strength, starter Waka’s strong pitching embroidered Petco Park. From the 1st to the 3rd episode, Waka succeeded in dealing with the three-way offense in a row. In particular, after one out in the second inning, he showed off his superpower by striking out four batters in a row. In the fourth inning, Witt Jr., Pasquantino, and Perez were all induced with floating balls in right field.
In the 5th inning, after striking out Prato, the lead batter, with a swinging miss, he threw a ball that hit Olivares on the 3rd pitch, breaking the perfect streak. However, he struck out Masei on a swing and caught Dozer with a shortstop ground ball, continuing the no-hit streak.
In the sixth inning, he struck out Bradley and Garcia in a row, but allowed Witt Jr. to walk for the first time that day. However, Pasquantino grounded out to first base and deleted the sixth inning. and 7 times. Perez struck out. It was a Prato strikeout. Waka’s 11th strikeout. Even Olivares caught it with a grounder from third base. Now, there are only 6 out counts left until the no hit and no run. Petco Park is hot.
Ha-seong Kim also contributed to Waka’s strong fight. In the beginning of the 7th inning, with no runners on the 2nd, he calmly handled Olivares’ ground ball from 3rd base. In the bottom of the 7th inning, San Diego attacked. Leading hitter Bogatz’s infield hit and Carpenter’s walk created a chance for 1st and 2nd base safely. The next hitter was Kim Ha-seong. Kansas City pitcher Josh Starmont. The first pitch is a ball. The second pitch is a strike. On the third pitch, Kim Ha-seong tried to bunt by surprise, but took the bat off a low outside ball and a strike was declared. and the 4th pitch. In the end, Kim Ha-seong hit a low curve (135 km) that completely fell outward with exquisite bat technology and hit a heavy hit at the right time. Although his body was out of balance, Ha-seong Kim did not lose his concentration. In fact, it was the key to determining victory. Kim Ha-sung’s 14th RBI this season.
and the 8th inning. Waka is back on the mound. The number of pitches up to the 7th inning was 101, but Waka set out to challenge the record. But that was it. He swallowed his regret by giving a right-handed hit to the lead batter Massey. 103 total pitches. Manager Melvin walked directly to the mound. Waka passed the baton to Nick Martinez and walked down the mound to a standing ovation from San Diego’s home fans. In the end, San Diego escaped from a 5-game losing streak by tying up Kansas City’s batting line with 2 sporadic hits.
Kansas City Royals vs. San Diego Padres Starting Lineup (May 16 Korean time)
- Kansas City Royals : Bobby Witt Jr. (shortstop) – Vinny Pasquantino (1st baseman) – Salvador Perez (catcher) – Nick Prato (left fielder) – Edward Olivares (DH) – Michael Massey (2nd baseman) – Hunter Dozer (right field) – Jackie Bradley (center field) – Michael Garcia (third base). Starting pitcher Brad Keller.
- San Diego Padres : Fernando Tatis Jr. (right fielder) – Jake Cronenworth (1st baseman) – Manny Machado (3rd baseman) – Juan Soto (left fielder) – Xander Bogaerts (shortstop) – Matt Carpenter (designated hitter) – Ha-seong Kim (2nd baseman) Base) – Trent Grisham (center fielder) – Austin Nola (catcher). Starting pitcher Michael Waka.